Motor vehicle door lock

ABSTRACT

Vehicle door latch, in which the catch comprises a casing made of sound-proofing material, said casing containing a buffer pocket, situated behind the primary position in clockwise direction and said buffer pocket being stretched around up to the area of the primary position, forming an overtravel stop cooperating with the pawl.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a National Stage Application of International Patent ApplicationNo. PCT/DE 2004/000914, with an international filing date of Apr. 30,2004, which is based on German Patent Application No. 103 20 443.1,filed May 8, 2003. The contents of both of these specifications areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention refers to a vehicle door latch with at least one lockingmechanism, comprising mainly a catch with a primary position and, whereapplicable, a first position for an engaging pawl and containing aninlet opening as well as a catch bolt cooperating with the catch.

2. Description of Related Art

In the reference system of the vehicle door latch, the catch bolt movesinto the inlet opening. Generally, the catch bolt is located on thevehicle body, opposite to which the vehicle door latch is moved with itsinlet opening.

With vehicle door latches of this kind, constant efforts are made toimprove soundproofing when, on one hand, the catch bolt moves into theinlet opening and is held by the catch in its primary position, whilst,on the other hand, it also has to be ensured that the pawl cooperatingwith the catch does not leave the primary position, if the catch carriesout an overtravel as part of its closing movement. Such an overtravel isnecessary because of the tolerances required between the catch and pawlfor the closing and opening movement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Below, the invention is explained in more detail with reference to onlyone embodiment illustrated by the following drawings:

FIG. 1 represents a plan view of a vehicle door latch according to theinvention with a back plate, catch, pawl and an indicated catch;

FIG. 2 represents an enlarged section of the object shown in FIG. 1, inwhich the pawl lies against the overtravel stop on the catch; and

FIG. 3 represents the object shown in FIG. 2, with the pawl in primaryposition.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention described herein provides a vehicle door latch with atleast one locking mechanism (1, 4), comprising mainly a catch (1) with aprimary position (2) and, where applicable, a first position (3) for anengaging pawl (4) and an inlet opening (5) as well as a catch bolt (6)cooperating with the catch (1) and in which at least the catch (1)contains a casing (7) made of soundproofing material and the casing (7)contains a buffer pocket (8) situated behind the primary position (2) inclockwise direction, said buffer pocket being stretched around up to thearea of the primary position (2), forming an overtravel stop (9) forcooperation with the pawl 4.

In certain embodiments of the invention described herein, the pawl (4)is at least partially encased by soundproofing material (10).

In certain embodiments of the invention described herein, the pawl (4)contains a surface coating of anti-seizing varnish or anti-corrosionagent.

In certain embodiments of the invention described herein, soundproofingmaterial (10) is a plastic, such as polyurethane.

In certain embodiments of the invention described herein, the casing (7)of the catch (1) contains a buffer pocket (11) between primary position(2) and first position (3).

In certain embodiments of the invention described herein, thetransmission ratio of catch (1)/pawl (4) is reduced, i.e. to 2:1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is based on the technical problem of creating a vehicledoor latch of the embodiment described above, that is characterized bynoise reduction and a reliable function during the cooperation of thecatch, pawl and catch bolt.

In order to solve this technical problem, the invention provides avehicle door latch with at least one locking mechanism, comprisingmainly a catch with a primary position and, where applicable, a firstposition for an engaging pawl and a catch bolt moving into an inletopening and cooperating with the catch, with at least the catchcontaining a casing of soundproofing material and the casing containinga buffer pocket situated behind the primary position in clockwisedirection, said buffer pocket being stretched around up to the area ofthe primary position, forming an overtravel stop for the pawl.

These measures of the invention ensure, in the first instance, that thecatch bolt moving into the inlet opening during the closing of arespective vehicle door in the reference system of the vehicle doorlatch is buffered by the catch during gripping as a result of the bufferpocket integrated in the casing of the catch. Consequently, not only thecasing consisting of soundproofing material but, in particular, also thebuffer pocket ensures a quieter closing operation as well as aconsiderable noise reduction when the vehicle door is closed. It is alsoensured that the reliable function of the vehicle door latch of theinvention is guaranteed even if the catch carries out an overtravel aspart of the closing operation, as the overtravel stop for the pawlensures that the pawl remains in the primary position area of the catch.

The catch carries out a limited overtravel, restricted by a stop, e.g.in the back plate or latch housing, until the overtravel stop comes intocontact with the pawl. Due to the cooperation of the overtravel stop onthe catch with the pawl, the pawl cannot leave the primary position areaand lies flush against the primary position of the spring-loaded catchupon completion of the closing operation.

Also, in case of an overtravel of the catch, a noise reduction betweenthe catch and pawl is achieved, as the overtravel stop of the pawl onthe catch is formed by the buffer pocket stretched around into thisarea, which also guarantees a resilient interception of not only thecatch bolt but also of the pawl during overtravel, as part of anovertravel compensation.

Other characteristics offered by the invention are detailed below. Thepawl can, for instance, also be only partially encased by asoundproofing material to further enhance soundproofing. Thissoundproofing material can be a thermoplastic plastic, such aspolyurethane. The casing of the catch can also contain a buffer pocketbetween the primary position and the first position, to achieve furthersoundproofing, when the pawl is moved from the first position into theprimary position. Finally, in a vehicle door latch according to theinvention, there is also the possibility of reducing the transmissionration of the catch/pawl to, for example 2:1. This achieves, on onehand, a more compact design and optimizes, on the other hand, kinematicsrelationships.

The figures show a vehicle door latch with at least one lockingmechanism, comprising mainly a catch 1 with a primary position 2 andfirst position 3 for an engaging pawl 4 and a catch bolt 6 moving intoan inlet opening 5 and cooperating with catch 1, said catch bolt beingonly indicated. As soon as the pawl 4 is lifted, the spring-loaded catch1 turns clockwise and consequently to the open position. At the sametime, the catch bolt 6 is released, allowing the respective vehicledoor—not shown—to be opened. The lifting of the pawl 4 can be by purelymechanical means by a lever gear—not shown—or with the aid of a motorand, in particular, an electrical motor. During the closing operation,the catch 1 turns anti-clockwise according to the direction of the arrowin FIG. 1 and is able to carry out an overtravel. It must, however, beensured that the assigned pawl 4 does not leave the primary positionarea and then engages easily in the primary position 2.

Catch 1 contains a casing 7 made of soundproofing material. This casing7 contains a buffer pocket 8 situated behind the primary position 2 inclockwise direction, said buffer pocket being stretched around up to thearea of the primary position 2, forming an overtravel stop 9 for thepawl 4. As part of the closing movement and an overtravel, catch 1 restswith its overtravel stop 9 against the pawl 4. This ensures that thepawl 4 does not leave the primary position and then easily engages inprimary position 2, especially as the catch 1 is spring-loaded inclockwise direction.—Also the pawl 4 itself can, at least partially, beencased by soundproofing material 10. The pawl 4 can, however, alsocontain a surface coating of anti-seizing varnish or anti-corrosionagent. Where the pawl is partially encased, this surface coating can belimited to the areas not encased.

The soundproofing material 10 is a thermoplastic plastic, e.g.polyurethane. The casing 7 of catch 1 can also contain a buffer pocket11 for pawl 4 between primary position 2 and first position 3. Thisbuffer pocket 11 is of a predominantly straight design, whilst thebuffer pocket 8, forming the overtravel stop 9, is curved towards theprimary position 2. Both buffer pockets 8, 11 are designed as slottedpockets.

The transmission ratio of the catch 1/pawl 4 is reduced to 2:1.—FIG. 1also shows a stop 12 in the back plate or latch housing, producing therestriction of the overtravel of catch 1, described above. The enlargedview of FIG. 1 shows another modification, in which the buffer pocket 8can contain reinforcement ribs 13, in order to be able to act easily andpermanently as overtravel stop 9.

1-6. (canceled)
 7. A vehicle door latch with at least one lockingmechanism (1, 4) comprising a pawl (4); a catch (1) having a primaryposition (2) for engaging said pawl (4), and optionally a first position(3) for engaging said pawl (4); and an inlet opening (5) for receiving acatch bolt (6); wherein said catch (1) comprises a casing (7), saidcasing (7) being made of a soundproofing material and having a firstbuffer pocket (8), said first buffer pocket (8) being disposed next tosaid primary position (2) in the clockwise direction; and said pawl (4)is at least partially encased by a soundproofing material.
 8. A vehicledoor latch with at least one locking mechanism (1, 4) comprising a pawl(4); a catch (1) having a primary position, (2) for engaging said pawl(4), and optionally a first position (3) for engaging said pawl (4); andan inlet opening (5) for receiving a catch bolt (6); wherein said catch(1) comprises a casing (7), said casing (7) being made of asoundproofing material and having a first buffer pocket (8), said firstbuffer pocket (8) being disposed next to said primary position (2) inthe clockwise direction; and said first buffer pocket (8) being curvedtowards the primary position (2).
 9. The vehicle door latch of claim 8,wherein said pawl (4) is at least partially encased by a soundproofingmaterial.
 10. The vehicle door latch of claim 7, wherein said pawl (4)comprises further a surface coating of anti-seizing varnish oranti-corrosion agent.
 11. The vehicle door latch of claim 8, whereinsaid pawl (4) comprises further a surface coating of anti-seizingvarnish or anti-corrosion agent.
 12. The vehicle door latch of claim 7,wherein said soundproofing material is a plastic.
 13. The vehicle doorlatch of claim 12, wherein said soundproofing material is apolyurethane.
 14. The vehicle door latch of claim 8, wherein saidsoundproofing material is a plastic.
 15. The vehicle door latch of claim9, wherein said soundproofing material is a plastic.
 16. The vehicledoor latch of claim 14, wherein said soundproofing material is apolyurethane.
 17. The vehicle door latch of claim 15, wherein saidsoundproofing material is a polyurethane.
 18. The vehicle door latch ofclaim 7, wherein said casing (7) further comprises a second bufferpocket (11), said second buffer pocket (11) being disposed between saidprimary position (2) and said first position (3).
 19. The vehicle doorlatch of claim 8, wherein said casing (7) further comprises a secondbuffer pocket (11), said second buffer pocket (11) being disposedbetween said primary position (2) and said first position (3).
 20. Thevehicle door latch of claim 9, wherein said casing (7) further comprisesa second buffer pocket (11), said second buffer pocket (11) beingdisposed between said primary position (2) and said first position (3).21. The vehicle door latch of claim 7, wherein a transmission ratiobetween said catch (1) and said pawl (4) is greater than
 1. 22. Thevehicle door latch of claim 8, wherein a transmission ratio between saidcatch (1) and said pawl (4) is greater than
 1. 23. The vehicle doorlatch of claim 21, wherein a transmission ratio between said catch (1)and said pawl (4) is
 2. 24. The vehicle door latch of claim 22, whereina transmission ratio between said catch (1) and said pawl (4) is
 2. 25.The vehicle door latch of claim 7, wherein said first buffer pocket (8)buffers said catch bolt (6) during gripping.
 26. The vehicle door latchof claim 8, wherein said first buffer pocket (8) buffers said catch bolt(6) during gripping.
 27. The vehicle door latch of claim 7, wherein saidfirst buffer pocket (8) reduces noise associated with closing of thevehicle door latch.
 28. The vehicle door latch of claim 8, wherein saidfirst buffer pocket (8) reduces noise associated with closing of thevehicle door latch.
 29. The vehicle door latch of claim 7, wherein saidfirst buffer pocket (8) forms an overtravel stop (9) for said pawl (4),said overtravel stop (9) operating so as to prevent said pawl (4) fromleaving from said primary position (2) upon completion of a closingoperation of the vehicle door latch.
 30. The vehicle door latch of claim8, wherein said first buffer pocket (8) forms an overtravel stop (9) forsaid pawl (4), said overtravel stop (9) operating so as to prevent saidpawl (4) from leaving from said primary position (2) upon completion ofa closing operation of the vehicle door latch.
 31. The vehicle doorlatch of claim 7, wherein said first buffer pocket (8) forms anovertravel stop (9) for said pawl (4), said overtravel stop (9)providing a resilient operation of said catch bolt (6) and said pawl(4).
 32. The vehicle door latch of claim 8, wherein said first bufferpocket (8) forms an overtravel stop (9) for said pawl (4), saidovertravel stop (9) providing a resilient operation of said catch bolt(6) and said pawl (4).
 33. The vehicle door latch of claim 18, whereinsaid second buffer pocket is of a straight design.
 34. The vehicle doorlatch of claim 19, wherein said second buffer pocket is of a straightdesign.
 35. The vehicle door latch of claim 20, wherein said secondbuffer pocket is of a straight design.
 36. The vehicle door latch ofclaim 7, wherein said first buffer pocket (8) comprises furtherreinforcement ribs (13), said reinforcement ribs (13) acting asovertravel stop (9).
 37. The vehicle door latch of claim 8, wherein saidfirst buffer pocket (8) comprises further reinforcement ribs (13), saidreinforcement ribs (13) acting as overtravel stop (9).